Side stand device for motorbike

ABSTRACT

A spring stand for motorcycles for making a return spring invisible from the outside to provide a neat appearance. A side stand is installed on a side lower section of a motorcycle body through a stand bracket. The side stand is formed on a pipe-shape in which a return spring and an engaging member which is biased in the projecting direction by the return spring are provided. A roller provided at the top section of the engaging member is caused to mount a mounting section provided on a stand bracket and to selectively engage a second engaging recession or a stand switch.

This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP01/10126 which has an Internationalfiling date of Nov. 20, 2001, which designated the United States ofAmerica.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a side stand device for motorcycles,and more particularly to a side stand which can make the externalappearance neat.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A side stand device for motorcycles has been constructed in which anupper section of a side stand is rotatably installed on a stand bracketprovided on a lower side section of a motorcycle body by a rotationalcenter shaft and a return spring is provided between the side stand andthe stand bracket, wherein the side stand is biased so as to rotate toeither a use position or a housing position by the action of this returnspring (See Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 11-208546 asone example).

In the conventional side stand, the return spring is comparatively largeand easily visible from the outside. It is therefore necessary toimprove the external appearance so that a neat outer appearance can beobtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to realize such arequirement.

To solve the above problem, according to a first invention regarding aside stand device for motorcycles of the present application, the sidestand device for motorcycles having a side stand rotatably installed ona lower side section of a motorcycle body in which the side stand isbiased so as to rotate to either a housing position or a use position bya return spring is provided, characterized in that a cam section isprovided on a side of the motorcycle body near a rotational center shaftand the cam section is provided with a mounting section and first andsecond engaging recessions, each having a small center distance, on eachside of the mounting section, and that an engaging member is provided onthe side of a side stand to selectively engage either the first orsecond engaging recessions when the side stand is in the use position orin the housing position and to slide on the mounting section when theside stand is in an intermediate position, wherein the engaging memberis biased so as to be pushed toward the cam section by the returnspring.

According to a second invention, a side stand device for motorcycleshaving a side stand rotatably installed on a lower side section of amotorcycle body in which the side stand is biased to rotate to either ahousing position or a use position by a return spring is provided,characterized in that the return spring is housed within the side standso as to not make the return spring easily visible from the outside.

According to the first invention, a cam section is provided on the sideof the motorcycle body near the rotational center shaft of the sidestand. The cam section is provided with the mounting section, and firstand second engaging recessions, each having a small center distance, oneach side of the mounting section, wherein the engaging member providedon the side of the side stand is biased so as to be pushed toward thecam section by the return spring. In this manner, the engaging member isconstructed to selectively engage either the first or second engagingrecession when the side stand is in the use position or in the housingposition and to slide on the mounting section when the side stand is inthe intermediate position.

Accordingly, as the return spring does not sway laterally even thoughthe side stand is caused to rotate, the return spring can be arrangedalong the side stand so that it is not easily visible from the outside.Thus, the side stand can be provided in a neat condition to improve theexternal appearance.

According to the second invention, the return spring is housed withinthe side stand so that it is not easily visible from the outside.Accordingly, the side stand can be provided in a neat condition toimprove the external appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side view of an entire motorcycle according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the above;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a side stand according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is cross-sectional view taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view explaining built-in parts;

FIG. 7 is a view explaining operation; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of a side stand according toanother embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. First, an entire mechanism of amotorcycle according to the present invention is outlined. FIG. 1 is aleft side view of this motorcycle and FIG. 2 is a right side view of thesame. As apparent from these figures, a front fork 2 supporting a frontwheel 1 is supported at its upper section by a front section 6 of amotorcycle body frame 5 through a bottom bridge 3 and a top bridge 4 andis caused to rotate by a handle 7. A headlamp 8 is installed on a frontsection of the body frame 5 and front blinkers 9 are provided on theright and left sides of the headlamp 8.

The body frame 5 comprises the front section 6 formed by forging or thelike, one main frame 10 extending backward and substantially level alongthe center of the body, one down frame 11 extending backward andslanting downward from the front section 6, a pair of right and leftseat rails 12 extending backward and substantially level from a rearsection of the main frame 10, a pair of right and left center frames 13extending backward and slanting downward from the rear section of themain frame 10, and a pair of right and left rear frames 14 slantinglyconnecting the lower ends of the center frames 13 to the rear ends ofthe seat rails 12 to form a substantially V-shaped space from the sideview between the center frames 13 and the rear frames 14. Each framemember is a pipe made of a suitable metal such as iron or an aluminumalloy and, in the present embodiment, round pipe is used.

The lower section of the down frame 11 is connected to a front sectionof a crankcase 16 in an air-cooled (or oil-cooled) in-line four cylindertype four cycle engine 15. The back upper section of the crankcase 16 isconnected to the center frames 13 by engine hangers 19 extending forwardand slanting downward from intermediate sections of the center frames13. In this manner, the body frame 5 is formed as a diamond frameincluding the engine 15 as a part of the components.

Each lower end section of the center frames 13 and the rear frames 14 isinterconnected at boss-shaped pivot sections 20, and front ends of rearswing arms 21 are rotatably pivoted at a pivot (not shown) by the rightand left pivot sections 20. The rear lower section of the crankcase 16is supported at a hanger and bracket 22, described below, supported atthe pivot.

A rear wheel 23 is rotatably supported at the rear ends of the rearswing arms 21 and driven by a chain 26 installed between a drivensprocket 24 and a drive sprocket (not shown) housed within a sprocketcover 25 which is provided at the rear section of the crankcase 16. Rearcushion units 27 are provided between the rear sections of the rearswing arms 21 and the rear sections of the seat rails 12 to form a rearwheel suspension.

A fuel tank 28 is supported on the main frame 10, and a seat 29 arrangedadjacent to the rear section of the fuel tank 28 is supported on theseat rails 12. The rear end of the seat 29 forms a backrest section 29 awhich projects slanting upward. The seat 29 is shown here as a singleseat, but it can be optionally changed to a double seat.

A tail cowl 30 with a substantially triangular shape from a side view isprovided adjacent to the rear surface of the backrest 29 a. The tailcowl 30 is a member made of a suitable material such as resin of which afront slant face 31 contacting the backrest 29 a has a vertically widestside. The tail cowl 30 extends backward to have a tapered shape, and therear end 32 thereof is formed to make an acute angle.

A tail unit 33 is installed near the rear end 32. The tail unit 33 isprovided with a license plate 35 on each rear end of a pair of right andleft sheet metal-shaped frames 34 and with right and left rear blinkers36 on the sides of the sheet metal-shaped frames 34. A license lamp andthe like which are not shown in the figure are also integrally formedwith the tail unit 33.

Reference numeral 40 in the figure is a pair of front brake hoses whichare connected between a master cylinder (not shown) of a handle leverand a pair of brake calipers 41 of dual brakes provided on the right andleft sides of the front wheel 1. The brake calipers 41 are supported onlower sections of the front forks 2 through caliper brackets 42 toslidably contact a pair of right and left brake discs 43.

Numeral 44 is an oil cooler and 45 is an air cleaner. The air cleaner 45is connected to an intake port in a cylinder head 17 of the engine 15through an electronic injection unit 46 to supply a fuel-air mixture tothe cylinder head 17 from the electronic injection unit 46. Numeral 47is a cover for an air cleaner casing which is disposed within asubstantially triangular space surrounded by the seat rails 12, thecenter frames 13 and the rear frames 14. As shown in FIG. 2, housedwithin the substantially triangular space provided on the right side ofthe motorcycle body are a battery 48 and a fuse box 49.

Exhaust gas is led from an exhaust port of the cylinder head 17 throughan exhaust pipe 50 to a muffler 51 provided at a rear section of thebody. The exhaust pipe 50 is provided to respectively arrange two pipeson each side of the body, wherein each unit of two pipes is connected toa pair of mufflers 51 provided on the right and left sides of the body.

Numerals 52 and 53 are pipe-shaped stays for supporting the muffler 51.The upper stay 52 extends backward from the intermediate section of therear frame 14 and the lower stay 53 extends backward from the rear endsection of the hanger and bracket 22 to form a substantially triangularshape from a side view.

Rotatably supported on the hanger and bracket 22 provided on the leftside of the motorcycle body shown in FIG. 1 are a change pedal 54 on thefront side and a side stand 55 on the central side, wherein a step 56 isinstalled at the back of the side stand 55. As apparent in FIG. 2, thefront lower section of the hanger and bracket 22 projects forward toform an engine hanger 57 which supports the lower section of thecrankcase 16.

The hanger and bracket 22 on the right side of the motorcycle body shownin FIG. 2 has the same mechanism as that on the left side of the body,but here a brake pedal 58 is provided in place of the change pedal 54.

A side stand will now be explained. FIG. 3 is a side view showing theside stand partially cut away and FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view ofthe side stand taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a crosssectional view of the same taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 isa view showing components on the side of the side stand. FIG. 7 is aview showing operation of the side stand.

Referring first to FIGS. 3 to 5, the side stand 55 is a member with asubstantially tubular shape as a whole which is made of a suitable metalsuch as iron (see FIG. 5). The upper end section of the side stand 55 isformed with forked sections 60 each extending in a flat plate-shape inparallel, and an installation hole 61 is formed in each of the forkedsections 60, with the holes 61 opposing one another.

An axial hole 62 formed in the axial direction is provided with a smalldiameter section 63 at its upper side so that the side stand 55 has athick section to provide a step 64 between the axial hole 62 and thethick section.

The side stand 55 is provided with a bent section 65 below the uppersection 68 in which the small diameter section 63 opens upwards. Thelower section 69 below the bent section 654 forms an inward-openingrecession 66, and a lower end of the side stand 55 is further bent toform a ground contact section 67 with a flat shape (see FIG. 4).

A small diameter section 71 of an engaging member 70 sidably passesthrough the small diameter section 63, and the projecting section of thesmall diameter section 71 extends up to the vicinity of the installationhole 61. The other end of the engaging member 70 is provided with alarge diameter section 72 moving within the axial hole 62. The other endof the engaging member 70 is prevented from slipping out by the step 64.

One end of the large diameter section 72 contacts one end of a returnspring 73 housed within the axial hole 62, and the large diametersection 72 is biased in the direction to be pressed against the step 64by the return spring 73, wherein the small diameter section 71 is biasedupward in the figure to project to the side of the forked sections 60.The other end of the return spring 73 contacts an adjuster 74 insertedthrough the open end of the small diameter section 63 near the bentsection 65.

As shown in FIG. 6, the outer circumference of the adjuster 74 isprovided with a male screw 75 which engages a female screw 77 formed onthe inner circumference of the side stand 55 near the bent section 65.One end surface of the adjuster 74 in the axial direction is formed witha hexagonal recession 76. By inserting a tool into the hexagonalrecession and rotating the tool, the position of the adjuster 74 can bechanged to adjust the elasticity of the return spring 73. In this case,as the recession 66 is bent from the bent section 65, operation of thetool on the adjuster 74 becomes easy.

Referring to FIG. 6, A shows the engaging member 70, B shows theadjuster 74, and C shows the end surface where the hexagonal recession76 of the adjuster 74 is formed. D shows the engaging member 70 in a 90°different condition from A and E shows the condition of the engagingmember 70 seen from the top of D. As apparent from these figures, theprojection end 71 a of the small diameter section 71 is formed in a flatplate shape to provide forked sections extending in parallel to eachother. A roller 78 is rotatably supported around a pivot 79 between theprojections 71 a.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the side stand 55 is rotatablyinstalled on a stand bracket 80. The stand bracket 80 is a memberobtained by pressing or forging a metal and is provided with a main bodysection 81 which is installed on the side of the motorcycle body, andwith a slope section 82 which extends to the lower section of the mainbody section 81 and which is bent to project outwards and obliquely. Themain body section 81 is installed on a pivot section bracket 22 on themotorcycle body side through an installation hole 83 and its rotation isstopped by a bent section 84 bent substantially at a right angle.

The central section of the slope section 82 is provided with aninstallation hole 85. The slope section 82 is inserted between theforked sections 60 of the side stand 55 to allow the installation hole61 to meet with the installation hole 85. In this manner, the slopesection 82 and the forked section 60 are integrally connected by arotating center shaft 86, wherein the side stand 55 is rotatablyconnected relative to the stand bracket 80.

The end surface of the slope section 82 entering the forked sections 60is provided with a cam section 87 which consists of a mounting section88 and a first engaging recession 89 and a second engaging recession 90formed on either side of the mounting section 88. The center distance ofthe first engaging recession 89 and the second engaging recession 90from each rotating center shaft 86 is smaller than that of the mountingsection 88 from the rotating center shaft 86. Further, the centerdistance of the mounting section 88 changes to be gradually smaller fromthe first engaging recession 89 toward the second engaging recession 90.

When the side stand 55 is in the use position, the roller 78 of theengaging member 70, which projects on being pressed by the return spring73, engages the first engaging recession 89. When the side stand 55 isin the housing position, the roller 78 engages the second engagingrecession 90. On the other hand, when the side stand 55 rotates in theintermediate position between the use position and the housing position,the roller 78 is adapted to mount the mounting section 88 for rollingmovement. In this case, the return spring 73 is compressed by theengaging member 70 which was pressed down.

Numeral 91 in FIG. 4 is a stand switch which is constructed, forexample, as a rotary switch supported by the same shaft as the rotatingcenter shaft 86 and integrally installed on the forked sections 60 whichare situated inside of the body. The rotary switch is a conventionalswitch for detecting the rotational position of the side stand 55.

Operation of the present embodiment will now be explained. FIG. 7A showsthe use position, FIG. 7B shows the intermediate position, and FIG. 7Cshows the housing position. Referring first to A, the side stand 55 isin the use position in which the engaging member 70 is pressed out bythe return spring 73 to allow the roller 78 to engage the first engagingrecession 89. To shift the side stand 55 to the housing position fromthis condition, the side stand 55 is kicked up and the return spring 73is compressed through the engaging member 70 to allow the roller 78 tomount the mounting section 88.

In this position, a shaft line of the engaging member 70 meets an endsection on the side of the first engaging recession 89, and the mountingsection 88 changes to gradually reduce the center distance toward thesecond engaging recession 90. As a result, the roller 78 mounts themounting section 88 by momentum and the force from the return spring 73to enter the second engaging recession 90, wherein the roller 78 againengages the second engaging recession 90 and stops its motion.

It is also possible to change from C to A easily and surely by reverseoperation. In this case, as the return spring 73 is used as acompression spring, it is possible to surely rotate the side stand 55 toeffect A or C. Further, provision of the roller 78 makes the rotationsmooth.

As the return spring 73 does not be provided beyond the rotating centershaft 86 as in the prior art, even though the side stand 55 is caused torotate between the use position and the housing position, the returnspring 73 does not sway laterally. Accordingly, as the return spring 73can be housed within the side stand 55 with a comparatively slim pipeshape and it is not exposed to the outside, it is possible to make theexternal appearance neat.

Further, provision of the adjuster 74 can make elastic adjustment of thereturn spring 73 simple, and rotation of the side stand 55 can always bemaintained in the optimum condition. It is also possible to makeadjustment operation of the adjuster 74 easier by making use of the bentsection 65 of the side stand 55. The stand switch 91 can also bearranged on the inside of the body. In the prior art, it was notpossible to make such arrangement due to interference with the returnspring.

FIG. 8 is another embodiment showing the cross section of the side stand55 as in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the side stand 55 is formed with asubstantially V-shaped cross section in which a recessed space 100opening to the inside of the body is provided and a return spring 101 isprovided within the space 100.

This return spring 101 may be constructed as a push spring the same asthe return spring 73 in the previous embodiment or may be a coil springwhich is used as the return spring as seen in the prior art. In thelatter case, if in the breadth of the recessed space 100 the side stand55 is expanded, this makes lateral sway of the return spring 101possible.

Even in such a case, the return spring 101 is completely housed withinthe recessed space 100 of the side stand 55. In other words, as thereturn spring 101 is housed within the side stand 55, it is possible tonot make the return spring easily visible from the outside and to makethe external appearance neat.

It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to eachembodiment described above, but may be varied or applied in many ways.For example, the engaging mechanism of the push spring and the engagingmember 70 with the cam section 87 in the first embodiment are not alwayshoused within the side stand 55, but may be exposed to the outside as inthe prior art. Even in such a case, if these mechanisms are arrangedalong the side of the side stand 55 in the inside of the body, as theseare basically mechanisms which do not sway laterally, it is possible tonot make the mechanisms easily visible from the outside and as a result,a neat external appearance can be realized.

1. A side stand device for motorcycles, comprising: a side standinstalled on a lower side section of a motorcycle body, the side standhaving an arm member which is rotatably biased so as to rotate to eithera housing position or a use position by a return spring; a cam sectionprovided on the lower side section of the motorcycle body near arotational center shaft, the cam section being provided with a mountingsection and first and second engaging recessions, each having a smallcenter distance, on each side of the mounting section; an engagingmember provided coaxially to the arm member to selectively engage eitherof the first engaging recession or the second engaging recession whenthe arm member is in the use position or in the housing position, and toslide on the mounting section when the arm member is in an intermediateposition, the engaging member having a small outer diameter section onan upper end and a large outer diameter section on a lower end; and aroller attached to the upper end of the engaging member for rollingagainst the cam section, the roller having a diameter larger than awidth of the small diameter section of the engaging member, wherein theengaging member is biased so as to be pushed toward the cam section bythe return spring, an upward movement of the engaging member beinglimited by contact of the large outer diameter section of the engagingmember against a step of the arm member.
 2. The side stand device formotorcycles according to claim 1, wherein the arm member of the sidestand is provided with an axial hole and inward-opening recession, andthe engaging member is inserted into the axial hole through theinward-opening recession.
 3. The side stand device for motorcyclesaccording to claim 2, wherein the return spring is disposed in the axialhole under the engaging member.
 4. The side stand device for motorcyclesaccording to claim 1, wherein the return spring is a coil spring.
 5. Aside stand device for motorcycles, comprising: a side stand installed ona lower side section of a motorcycle body, the side stand having an armmember which is rotatably biased so as to rotate to either a housingposition or a use position by a return spring, the return spring beinghoused coaxially with the arm member of the side stand in a positionbelow an engaging member, whereby the return spring is not easilyvisible from the outside; an adjuster member disposed below the returnspring and capable of being moved up and down along a portion of alength of the arm member of the side stand for making an elasticadjustment to the return spring; wherein the arm member includes anupper section with an axial hole, and a lower section joining the uppersection at a bent section, the lower section being angled with respectto the upper section and having an inward-opening recession opened to aback side of the arm member, wherein a lower end of the axial hole isexposed to the inward-opening recession in order to insert the engagingmember into the axial hole through the inward-opening recession.
 6. Theside stand device for motorcycles according to claim 5, wherein theadjuster member is inserted into the axial hole through theinward-opening recession.
 7. The side stand device for motorcyclesaccording to claim 6, wherein the return spring is disposed in the axialhole under the engaging member.
 8. The side stand device for motorcyclesaccording to claim 5, wherein the return spring is a coil spring.
 9. Theside stand device for motorcycles according to claim 5, wherein theadjuster member is proved with a male screw which engages with a femalescrew formed on an inner circumference of the side stand.
 10. The sidestand device for motorcycles according to claim 5, wherein the engagingmember includes a small outer diameter section on an upper end and alarge outer diameter section on a lower end; and a roller attached tothe upper end of the engaging member for rolling against the camsection, the roller having a diameter larger than a width of the smalldiameter section of the engaging member.
 11. A side stand device formotorcycles, comprising: a side stand installed on a lower side sectionof a motorcycle body, the side stand having an arm member which isrotatably biased so as to rotate to either a housing position or a useposition by a return spring; a cam section provided on the lower sidesection of the motorcycle body near a rotational center shaft, the camsection being provided with a mounting section and first and secondengaging recessions, each having a small center distance, on each sideof the mounting section; an engaging member provided coaxially to thearm member of the side stand to selectively engage either of the firstengaging recession or the second engaging recession when the arm memberof the side stand is in the use position or in the housing position, andto slide on the mounting section when the arm member of the side standis in an intermediate positions; wherein the engaging member is biasedso as to be pushed toward the cam section by the return spring, whereinthe arm member includes an upper section, a lower section, and a groundsupporting section, the lower section being angled with respect to theupper section at one angle, and the ground supporting section beingangled with respect to the lower section at another angle; and furthercomprising an adjuster member disposed in the upper section of the armmember, adjacent to the one angle where the upper section joins thelower section.
 12. The side stand device for motorcycles according toclaim 11, wherein the arm member of the side stand is formed with asubstantially V-shaped cross section in which a recessed space openingis provided and the return spring is provided within the recessed space.